Bringing you the high-speed motorcycle racing news & action from today with the race photos from yesterday & today.
Having followed AMA Flat Track, AMA Road Racing, WERA & various other series since the early to mid '70s, the adrenaline-fed rush still lives on.
Thanks for making Stu's Shots your one-stop shop for racing news, info & links to the action on & off the track!
ALL shots COPYRIGHT Mike 'Stu' Stuhler (unless otherwise noted.)

Saturday, January 23, 2016

AMA Pro Flat Track released their 2016 schedule late last night, and other then a couple of minor changes and TBAs to it the racing season ahead is mostly what had been talked about andshown forth from late last fall.

As had been put forth and discussed, both Daytona Short Track rounds, the Springfield Mile races, the Peoria TT, Charlotte Half-Mile, the Sacto Mile, Lima Half-Mile and Sturgis Half-Mile all return to this year's upcoming season schedule.

Listed as TBA include what were previously 'tentative' rounds to wrap up the season in California (Calistoga Half-Mile) and the season ending round in Las Vegas (now listed as TBA in Northern California).

Although this is the latest we have seen the schedule being released (in what seems like ever), new AMA Pro Racing CEO Michael Lock discussed this with Barry Boone on his 'Talking Motorcycles' radio show a couple of weeks ago and made a big point of saying that going forward they want to have the schedule in place by mid-late summer, which would be a much better scenario for especially all of the teams wanting to go after sponsors for their respective budgets for the next season. That in itself would be a major move forward for the sanctioning body that is famous for releasing their schedule very late in the year (in the past five-six seasons previous schedules had been released from late November to early-mid December).

In the shot above, riders roar off the line in heat race #1 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the legendary Indy Mile, round 7 of the 2015 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines season on July 11.(L-R) Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Products/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory H-D XR750, Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson Motor Co-backed XR750, Henry Wiles on the #17 Zanotti Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-sponsored XR750, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motorsports/Castrol/Triumph America-sponsored Triumph Bonneville and Mikey Martin on the #91 Weirbach Racing/Racing Unlimited/Barnett-sponsored Kawasaki EX650 get the jump after the green light to lead the charge towards Indy's turn one.

With the release of the schedule, fans can now start 'officially' making their plans to attend the races of their choice for the season ahead, with the Daytona Short Track season opening doubleheader just 47 days away.

You can check out the full schedule below in the press release thanks to AMA Pro Flat Track.

AMA Pro Racing announces 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing is proud to announce an all-star lineup of events for AMA Pro Flat Track's 2016 schedule. The 15-round calendar combines events steeped in the rich history of the Grand National Championship with some new cities and new circuits.

At the start of 2016, defending Grand National Champion Jared Mees finds himself in a familiar place as he leads the charge in AMA Pro Flat Track's premier division, Harley-Davidson GNC1 presented by Vance & Hines. He'll be joined by some fresh competition this year, as defending GNC2 champ Davis Fisher has ascended the ranks to challenge the veterans.

The 2016 season will begin during the Bike Week festivities in Daytona Beach with a quarter-mile kickoff at the DAYTONA Flat Track on March 10 and 11, and will wrap up in early October with a yet-to-be-announced two-race swing through California.

On April 9, AMA Pro Flat Track heads to Austin, Texas to make its debut at the world-class Circuit of the Americas, racing alongside the stars of MotoGP and MotoAmerica as part of the Grand Prix of the Americas weekend. Next up is the first of the new events on the calendar, the Arizona Mile at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz. on May 14.

Mile racing fans will be happy to know that the historic Sacramento Mile will take place on May 21 and the legendary Springfield Mile returns to the calendar on the familiar dates of Memorial Day (May 29) and Labor Day (September 4). Remington Park will play host to the Oklahoma City Mile on June 18, marking the first mile for the Sooner State.

Wrapping up the summer, the series will visit a trio of Half-Mile circuits, Lima Half-Mile (June 25), Charlotte Half-Mile (July 30) and Sturgis Half-Mile (August 9), before Henry Wiles gets his shot at making it 12 consecutive wins at the Peoria TT on August 14. The final new event on the schedule will be held in New York State on August 20.

Details about the remaining dates and any additional events will be released as soon as they are available.

The 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season will once again kick off with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona's Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the "World Center of Racing" on Thursday and Friday, March 10 & 11.

FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

SMI, the promoters of the Sacramento Mile for the last couple of years, announced last week that their annual race at the Cal-Expo Fairgrounds this year to be held on Saturday, May 21 will feature another exhibition race involving former 3-Time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen.

For the last couple of years, Springer has been paired up with former 7-Time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr in these exhibition rounds that have proved to be very popular not only with the fans on hand but with the racing community overall.

This year's match-up however will involve the all-time winner in AMA Grand National Championship racing history as none other then 9-Time AMA Grand National Champion Scott Parker will be running alongside his fellow Michigan resident in what will surely be another great, bar-to-bar exhibition race that will pit the former factory Harley-Davidson team mates against one another.

In the shot above, Springsteen can be seen standing over Bill Werner as the 13-Time Grand National Championship winning tuner makes some final preps to the #28 and #33 Werner-Springteen Monster Energy/Wosner Pistons/Motion Pro-sponsored Kawasakis of riders Shaun Russell and JR Schnabel at the Lake Odessa Half-Mile on July 23, 2011.

If you haven't already gotten your tickets, which went on sale in late December, now is the time to start getting those purchases made. Not only will the regular roar of the Rolling Thunder Show be an event within itself to attend, but with the addition of Parker and Springsteen going at it in this exhibition round will surely get your adrenaline pumping!

You can check out the full details below of the big clash in May thanks to SMI.

SACRAMENTO, CA (Jan. 21, 2016) – Having met former rival Chris Carr for the last two years in the Sacramento Mile’s Clash of the Titans, three-time AMA Grand National Champion Jay Springsteen returns this year. Springer will now face friend and fellow Michigan racing legend, nine-time national champ Scott Parker, in Clash of the Titans III, at this year’s Sacramento Mile on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Cal Expo.

Springsteen is undefeated in this friendly exhibition competition, but now he’ll be up against Parker, the all-time winningest rider in AMA Pro Flat Track history. One thing is certain, fans are in store for a treat getting to see two of the biggest legends in the history of the sport going bar to bar around the historic Sacramento Mile.

Jay Springsteen is considered one of the best AMA Grand National flat-track racers of all time. Bursting onto the scene and earning the AMA Rookie of the Year Award in 1975, Springsteen won three consecutive AMA Grand National Championships starting in 1976. In 1982 he became the first rider to reach 30 wins in AMA Grand National competition – a feat he accomplished at the Sacramento Mile.

Scott Parker’s nine titles and 94 national wins made him the all-time leader in championships and wins in AMA Grand National history when he retired in 2000.Parker, who rode for the factory Harley-Davidson flat track team for most of his career, was considered the undisputed King of the Mile. His 55-career wins on mile flat tracks was more than double that of his nearest competitor. Parker won the prestigious AMA Athlete of the Year Award three times during his 22-year racing career.

“The Clash of the Titans is becoming a tradition of the Sacramento Mile,” said Steve McLaughlin, of Team SMI, the group promoting the event. “We’re thrilled Scotty and Jay are coming out to be a big part of the 51st running of the event. Not only will the fans get to see these two icons of the sport at speed around the Mile, there will also be opportunities to meet with Jay and Scotty to get photos and autographs. These are two of the most beloved riders in all of motorcycle racing, not just here, but globally, and we’re pleased to be able to bring them together for this unique meeting.”

The AMA Pro Grand National Championship series is one of the longest running motorcycle racing championships in the world. On the long straights of the Sacramento Mile top speeds can reach 130 miles per hour. Flat track racing has produced many of America’s Motorcycle Grand Prix Champions such as Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, Jr. and Nicky Hayden. Visit www.sactomile.com to keep up with all the latest on the event.

Mid-America Speedway located on Indianapolis' southeast side has released their schedule for the upcoming season.

Unfortunately with the loss of the AMA Pro Flat Track Indy Mile there will no longer be a 'Night Before' or 'Night After' Pro race but they have stepped up with two back-to-back rounds of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series that will hit the track on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13. This will be the third year running for Mid-America to host the AMA Vintage races and should be another great addition to their already heavy schedule for their season ahead.

Of course Mid-America's schedule is heavily laden with a plethora of their local races, but also this year will include them pairing up with the XIIR ice racing series as well as a couple of rounds of indoor dirt tracking in Danville, IL. before the full schedule gets rolling in June.

In the shot above, Paul Bailey's #52G pre-unit Triumph brakeless mount sits inside the pits at Mid-America Speedway during their hosting of the 2015 AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series round on August 8.

You can check out the full schedule at Mid-America Speedway for the upcoming season below, and if you're in the area make sure you hit up the track during one of their rounds as you won't be disappointed in the little track that could!

Mid-America Speedway News

Issue No. 1.16

2016 Mid-America Speedway News

2016 will mark the 9th season of racing at Mid America Speedway. We have 15 events scheduled for 2016. Obviously Mother Nature controls the actual number of events run as we had 14 races on the schedule in 2015, and we were only able to run nine.

We are often asked why we run so many races. The truth is that 15 races is a lot of races for the staff, but due to the structure of our lease agreement with the Marion County Fairgrounds we are charged for the facility whether we use it or not and it takes a minimum of twelve events to break even. The other concern is that if we only paid for the facility for a handful of events we know that kart and TQ midget promoters would come in and not take care of the facility in the same manner that we do. We have seen it happen in the past, and the track that was left behind was not suitable for motorcycles.

2016 Schedule

The season is scheduled to kick off on April 30th with our annual spring opener. We then take a little over a month off before our next event which we consider our true season opener on June 4th. Just like in years past, there will be a $100 bonus to the winning bike owner of the 80-200 class. June 18th is our 10th Annual Fair Race. Had we not promoted this event in 2007, flat track would not exist at the Marion County Fairgrounds. After the fair, we take almost a month off and return on July 16th where the winner of the 50+/Super Senior class will take home a $100 bonus. July 30th is a regular points night, and then we have a double header on on Friday, August 12th and Saturday the 13th which is rounds 11 and 12 of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Series. Saturday, August 13th is also round 2 of the FIM sanctioned USA vs. Canada Speedway Series. (Round one will be in Welland, ON on July 9th.) Next on the schedule is our August 20th event, followed by our Vet 30+ Night on August 27th. September 10th is the next date on the schedule followed by Vintage Heavy Night on September 17th, and a regular points nights on September 24th. October 8th will pay $500 to win the 250 money class. October 22nd is a regular points night, and our 7th annual Halloween race will be on October 29th with $500 going to the winner of the Open Class. Our awards banquet will be on 11/12 at the Sunshine Bowling Center in Clermont, IN. There will also be a free practice starting at 11:00am on the 12th so riders can ride one more time before the weather turns cold.

What is new for 2016?

Putting on races takes a lot of behind the scenes work that when done properly provide a positive experience for the fans, riders, and sponsors. The staff at Mid-America's motto is "to make the next event better than the last event". Right after the end of the 2015 season, we went to work on a new web based program that will allow riders to get lineups and results on their mobile phones and tablets. We feel that this will allow everyone to be kept better informed as to which race is on the track, who the riders are, and which events are coming up next in the race order. Basically, anyone using the link will have access to the same information that the scoring tower has. Note that results will still be manually entered, so there could be a short delay between the end of a race and the results being posted, but we expected this delay to be a few minutes at most.

We will also continue to post the printed lineups just like we have always done.

Ice Racing

Mid-America works closely with the promoters at Extreme International Ice Racing to grow the sport of flat track. They have three more events left on their schedule and asked us to spread the word.

January 23rd, Xfinity Arena, Everett, WA

February 13th, The Aud, Kitchener, ON

February 19th, David S. Palmer Arena, Danville, IL

The 450 flat track class pays $500 to win, $250 for second, and $100 for third. Pit bikes (air cooled machines up to 150cc) pay $100 to win, $50 for second, and $25 for third. There will also be a combined 65/85 class offered at each round. Their website is www.xiir.org. Call 317.871.4392 for more information.

Other Flat Track events in the Area

Danville, IL

The staff of Extreme International Ice racing is going to be putting on two indoor dirt events at the David S. Palmer Arena in Danville, IL on May 20th, and 21st. More details will be provided as the event gets closer, but class structure and payout will most likely mirror what you see at Mid-America.

Converse, IN

Mike Singleton and Travis are putting on a two day event at the Converse Fair Short Track on Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th.

Important Times

Gates Open: 12:00

Signup Opens: 2:30

Riders Briefing: June, July & August:4:00

Riders Briefing: Sept & October: 4:30

Practice: June, July & August:4:30

Practice: Sept & October: 5:00

Heats: 7:00

Directions to Mid-America

Mid-America Speedway is located at the southeast corner of Indianapolis at the Marion County Fairgrounds. From 465, take exit 49 and go to the first light and turn left, continue approximately 3/4 of a mile, and go over the overpass. Bear to the left of the base of the overpass, and the entrance to Mid-America is 1/4 mile on the left.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

As we start to get into the new year, AMA Pro Flat Track announced
last week that they have added the Oklahoma City Mile to the
still-tentative schedule for the 2016 season, slated to run on
Saturday, June 18, marking the return to the OK State for the first
time since the 1999 season.

The powers that be out of Daytona Beach continue to make changes
to their hierarchy and their forward-looking model in terms of The
Rolling Thunder Show. New CEO Michael Lock just last week was on
former AMA Pro Flat Track announcer Barry Boone's radio show last
week and spoke about a lot of the current changes and the current
outlook on the series as it tries to position itself for moving
forward. You can hear
that show here and get an idea of what the series
head man has in mind for the greatest racing show on two wheels in
the world.

Probably the biggest missing item though as the series awaits its
first events of the season just at two months away (Daytona Short
Track doubleheader on March 10-11) is the release of a full season
and set schedule.

We do know the main part of the schedule and the returning players
for the upcoming season. Besides the doubleheader round at Daytona in
March, we do know that both Springfield Mile races will return (May
29, September 4), Lima will be running the final Saturday in June as
it has for the last three and-a-half decades (June 25), the Peoria TT
(August 14), the Sacto Mile (May 21), the Black Hills Half-Mile
(August 9) and the return of the Charlotte Half-Mile (August
27).

The tentative schedule that was originally announced at the
end of November during the AMA Pro Flat Track season-finale
banquet can be found here:

So with adding in the date for the XGames round, a new round in
mid-May in Scottsdale, AZ., the recently announced COTA round in
early-April, and the currently TBA rounds in Calistoga and Las Vegas,
we at least have a very good idea of what to expect for the season
ahead. And as last heard and being discussed, the sanctioning body in
Daytona was still working on adding another round in central Indiana
(and no, still not Indy nor Terre Haute).

In the shot above, riders get ready for the lights to go
green for the start of the Lima Half-Mile on Sunday, June 28, 2015.

(L-R) Brad Baker on the #6 Harley-Davidson Motor
Co/Screaming Eagle Performance Parts/Arai Helmets-sponsored factory
XR750, Brandon Robinson on the #44 Latus Motorsports/Castrol/Triumph
America-backed Triumph Bonneville, Henry Wiles on the #17 Zanotti
Racing/Motion Pro/Bell Helmets-sponsored XR750, Sammy Halbert on the
#7 Briggs Auto/Scott Powersports/Martin Trucking-sponsored XR750,
Jared Mees on the #1 Las Vegas H-D/Rogers Racing/Harley-Davidson
Motor Co-backed XR750 and Bryan Smith on the #42 Crosley
Brands/Howerton Motorsports/Villa-Esparza-backed Kawasaki EX650 make
up the first row of 18 men to make the National main at the Allen
County Fairgrounds.

Also seen in this shot from the second row include Jake
Shoemaker on the #55 Bonneville Performance/Triumph/Castrol-sponsored
Triumph Bonneville, Wyatt Maguire on the #16 Kirkland Racing/Racing
Unlimited/Steve Pruczinski-sponsored XR750, Steve Bonsey on the #80
Dodge Brothers/Classic Harley-Davidson/Alpinestars-backed XR750,
Dustin Crow on the #61 Greg Crow Racing/Gary O/Glen's Autobody-backed
XR750, Chad Cose on the #49 Myers Motorsports/ERT/Rod Lake-sponsored
Kawasaki, and Briar Bauman on the #14 USC/Hart Racing/Stevens
Racing-sponsored Kawasaki.

Shawn Baer on the #32 SBR/Straight Arrow Trucking/Shawn
Baer Racing-sponsored KTM LC8 950 and Kyle Johnson on the #77
Parkinson Brothers Racing/Hot Rod Harley-Davidson/Pro 1
Industries-backed Kawasaki make up the final row of riders visible
just prior to the start of the 25-lap main event.

So in essence, we do have a schedule in place, and what appears to
be almost complete for the upcoming season, which
will help most everyone to be able to make their plans for this
year's slate of racing, other then a couple of TBAs on dates towards
the end of the season and the aforementioned possible central Indiana
round. Once the 'official' schedule is brought forth we will have it
here for everyone to compare notes on.

In the meantime, check out the press release below thanks
to AMA Pro Flat Track concerning the OK City race in June and
start marking your calendars!

Oklahoma City Mile Added to 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2016) - AMA Pro Racing and event promoter BrassMonkey Promotions LLC have partnered to put Oklahoma City back on the map of professional dirt track racing. The Oklahoma City Mile has been added to the 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track schedule on Saturday, June 18 at the newly renovated Remington Park.

"There's a lot of excitement because there hasn't been anything like this here in over 15 years," said Shawn Brassfield, promoter of the Oklahoma City Mile. "Since the speedway at the fairgrounds was torn down, fans have been missing the sport and are excited about the return of racing."

AMA Pro Flat Track last visited Oklahoma City in 1999, when 7-time Grand National Champion Chris Carr took home a Half-Mile victory. The 2016 event will mark the first Mile event held in the Sooner State, but the racing action is only part of the story. The off-track entertainment will inundate fans with an abundance of family-friendly activities for the Father's Day weekend.

"Our aim is to create an event that's not just for the hardcore race fan, but a great family-friendly outing for Father's Day as well," said Brassfield.

BrassMonkey's vision for the Oklahoma City Mile is to make it an entertainment experience. They plan to give the 50-million-dollar venue an atmosphere that resembles a carnival by transforming the infield into a "fun zone," with face painting for children and over-the-top entertainment for adults.

The 2016 AMA Pro Flat Track season will once again kick off with a doubleheader at the DAYTONA Flat Track during Daytona's Bike Week festivities. The twin short track races will take place at the "World Center of Racing" on Thursday and Friday, March 10 & 11.

FansChoice.tv is the official home for live streaming coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track events. The site also provides coverage of IMSA's development and single-make series, and NASCAR's touring and weekly series. Catch all the action at http://www.FansChoice.tv.

About AMA Pro Flat Track:

AMA Pro Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on AMA Pro Flat Track, please visit http://www.amaproracing.com/ft/, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or live stream the on-track action on FansChoice.tv.

AMA Pro Racing is thepremier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

2016 AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series Schedule Released

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- January 5, 2016 -- The 14-round 2016 AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series will kick off with a half-mile event on Saturday, March 5, in Savannah, Ga. Throughout the year, racers will compete for points with hopes of earning a coveted AMA National No. 1 plate in a number of historically correct classes.

"We are excited about our 2016 schedule," said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. "With most of our events being double-headers, it provides our racers with an opportunity to travel once and race twice on the same weekend."

The first three rounds of the series will run in conjunction with the AMA-sanctioned amateur dirt-track program held during Daytona Bike Week.

The AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series recognizes national champions in period-correct classes that reflect the storied history of AMA dirt-track competition. Class winners are honored at the annual AMA Championship Banquet, which recognizes national champions in all amateur racing disciplines.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world's largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders' interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling.

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Fan of all racing, but the bikes are what makes the adrenaline flow and the rush set in.
In what started as an attempt to share and scrapbook my racing catalog, I have since streamlined my coverage to give a more updated and behind the scenes look at motorcycle racing from the eye of my camera and from my perspective as a long-time fan.
So stay tuned for coverage of AMA Pro Flat Track and Road Racing, along with some of the other series that showcase the great sport of 2-wheeled high speed racing!
You can e-mail me @: stuman714@yahoo.com